Drilling apparatus



(No Medel.) v 42 Sheets- M. C. BULLOGK. DRILLNG APPARATUS.

No. 462,392. Patented NOV. 3,1891'.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

lVLO. BULLOGK.

DRILLING APPARATUS.

No. 462,392 Patented N0v.3,1891.

warren drames .lllLAN (I llliQlFK, OF ('lllCAtlO, ILLINOIS.

DRlLLING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,392, dated November 3, 1891.

Application filed July 12, 1889- Serial No. 317,322. (No model.)

To all whom vi may concern.-

Bo it known that. I, MILAN CLBULLOUK, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drilling Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, an d exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to rock-drilling apparatus having au annular revolvingr cuttinghead acting by attrition, and more particularly to a novel construction in the core-bar rel of such apparatus, or that part which carries the cutting-head and receives the core as the latter is formed.

Ileretoforc in rock-drilling it has been customary, where annular cutters are employed' for cutting a core, to supply water tothe said cutters for lubricating them and removing detritus by passing the same down through the drill-rod, under or around the cutters,

and then upwardly exterior to said drill-rod.

It is very desirable to remove intact the pieces or sections of the core as they become detached or are broken from the end thereof within the core-barrel, so that a sure indication may be had of the nature and condition of the strata through which the drill is passing. It is seldom that the core remains in an unbroken piece the length of the core-barrel; but usually the core is broken into shortpieces, either by reason of the presence of seams or f rom the softness of the rock. As the drilling operation continues, after one or more of such short sections become detached and loose lwithin the core-barrel the rotary motion of the water induced by therevolving core barrel, together with the downward pressure of the water upon said detached sections of cores, will often canse the latter to grind upon the stationary or undetached part of the core and upon each other` so that by attrition they are worn rapidly away to such an extent that in some instances they are entirely disintegrated and carried away by thecurrent of water in a finely-divided state. This is especially liable to occur in working in soft strata, such as coal,7 when in prospecting it is most desirable to obtain the core in a perfect state, in order to secure an accurate knowledge of the thickness and character of the strata through which the drill is passing. It will thus be seen that the core removed, instead of representingthe strata passed through in character and length, will consist of small broken and fractured pieces, often consisting of the harder parts or rock strata only, or in some cases the entire core will be ground into fine particles, leaving no indication of the characterot' the formation bored through. To

overcome these objections, and to enable the core to be removed in sections as large as possibleand without loss by breaking or attrition, I make use of the method described by me in an application for Lett-ers Patent, Serial No. 305,255, tiled -in the-United Sta-tes Patent Ofice March 29, 1889. Said application embodies the method of forcing the water down 'exterior to the drill-rod andA core-barrel and upwardly within, the same.

The construction of the apparatus in the present application dilfers from thatdescribed in theapplication referred to, but comprises the features of forcing the water down under pressure exterior to the core-barrel and upwardly within the same with the same result set forth in said application-to wit, that the force of thewater ilowing inwardly within the core-barrel will raise the separated sections ot' the core and sustain them out of contact with the stationary part of the core with each other, so that they will be prevented fromV heilig ground away-in the manuel' above de scribed and can be removed in the same con dition as when first detached.

The invention consists in the various details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, and pointed` out in the appended claims.

tral vertical section of the lower end of a IOO under side or working face of said.cutter.-

head. Fig. 7 is a view in central vertical section of a modied form of construction embodying my invention.

As shown in said drawings, A indicates the lower end of atubular drill-rod, which extends upwardly above the surface of the ground and is connected with a suitable drilling machine or engine, bymeans of which it is given rotary movement and fed or advanced into the hole. rlhe said drill-rod A is connected at its. lower end by'a screw-threaded joint Vwiththe upper end of a corebarrel head B, which forms one of the tubular parts con'necting the core-barrel with the drill-rod'. The said head B is formed with a central aperture or chamber divided into three parts orsections, as follows, to wit: an upper section b, an intermediate contracted section b', and Aa lower enlarged section b2, which is of a greater diameter than the section '1). The upper and lower sections b and b2 are about the same length and extend from the ends of said head nearly to the center thereof, where they are separated by the intermediate contracted section b', which is relatively short. B4 is a pipe, which is passed through the head B, and is of an external diameter the same as that of the internal diameter of the contracted portion of the core-barrel head B, so that it separates the upper section or charnber b from the lower section or chamber b2.

Vss

The Said pipe B4 is longer than the head B and projects beyond the same at either end thereof.

The head B i's in its principal part of a di ameter less than that of the surrounding hole, so as to provide a space exterior' to the head for the passage of water. About mid- Way its length the head B is provided with an lannular enlargement or outwardly-extending iiange B', which is of the same size as the hole being drilled.

The lower end of the head B is connected with the upper end of a core-barrel coupling C by a screw-threaded joint, said coupling being of lthe same diameter as the flange B. Around the smaller part of the head B and between the enlargement B and the upper end of the coupling C, I place a cylindric tube or sleeve B2, which is annular and continuous vat its upper and lower end portions and has a series of intermediate vertical slots b3 b3. l

B3 is a belt or short tube, of rubber or similar material, tightly secured at its ends up'on the continuous portions of the sleeve B2. I have shown in the drawings said rubberbelt as secured to the sleeve by means o f a'wrapping of wire b4 or other material, and the sleeve is scored or roughened, as at b5 b5, so that the rubber may be more securely held thereto. ln constructing and arranging the sleeve B2 and accompanying parts upon the head said sleeve is made sufficiently large to turn thereon, and to facilitate such turning of the sleeve two friction-rings b b are preferably arranged, respectively, between the ends of said sleeve B2, the lateral ange B', and the upper end of the coupling C.

'bl b7 are water-passages leading from the lower end o`f thev upper chamberb of the head outwardly to a point on the head adjacent to or opposite the vertical slots b3 bot` the sleeve B2. It will be obvious that the water passing from the chamber b through the water-passages 137 bl will pass through the slotsbb3 and enter beneath and expand the rubber tube, thereby pressing the same against the Walls of the hole being drilled, so that it formsa practically water-tight jcint between the drillrod and the walls of the hole to prevent the passage of water at this point. It will also be Ynoted that the rubber tube, pressing against the walls of the holeand beingloosely mounted upon the head, will not revolve with the head as it is turned by the drill-rod. The said tube is arranged as .thus described, for the reason that if turned continually with the drill-rod the constantprubbing against the sides of the hole would in a short time wear.

it out.

B5 B5 indicate a plurality of ports leading front the upper end of the chamber b2 to the outside of the head B above the enlargement B'; 'i

The coupling C, before mentioned, is in its upper part c of the same external diameter as the diameter of the hole, but near its lower part is reduced in size, as at c', forming a water-space at this point. At its lower end it is secured to the upper end of the core-barrel by a screw-threaded joint.V The coupling C is provided with a central opening or chamber C', which is considerably larger than the chamber b2, and is desirably contracted at its upper end to form a shoulder, against which the end of the head B bears. The pipe B"1 extends into the opening or chamber C and is provided atits lower end with a pipe-fitting C2, which communicates with the water-space c by means of a plurality of branch pipes C3 C3, which are connected with the said pipe-lib ting C2 at their upper ends and pass through the sides of the coupling C adjacent to the water-space c. Upon the external shoulder formed between the upper portion c and the lower contracted portion c of the coupling C, I insert diamonds c2 c2 or other suitable cutting-points. The external diameter of the upper part c of the coupling is a little larger than the cutting-head at the lower end of the corebarrel, and the cuttingpoints c2 c2, located at the lower end of said part c, are arranged slightly to enlarge or ream out the hole previouslycut by the cutting-head. The said cutting-points c2 c2 are thus arranged for the purpose'of makin gthe wall of theholeto accurately conform to the part c of the coupling, so that the latter will closely tit the reamed-out part of the hole, it being obvious that the walls of the hole made by the advance cuttinghead Imay not be sut'iciently uniform to make a close joint with the coupling C. The cut- IOO IIO

ting of said. points ci c2 and the contactv of the coupling with the 1walls of the hole above said points wilt also serve to stead y the upper end of the corebarrel and prevent vibratory movement thereof, which is likely to be present when the drill-rod is unsupported at its sides above the cutting-head, as is the case in the absence of such cutting-points c2 c2. Such vibratory movement of the core-barrel is often so great as to break the core within the corefbarrel, and it is therefore of great advantage to avoidthe same.

c3 c3 are packing-ringsinserted in the face of the portion c of the coupling C and serve to form a tight joint between said coupling and the Walls of the hole.

Within the lower end of the coupling C, I arrange auupwardly-opening check-valve C4, herein shown as consisting of a valve-seat c4, formed withv a central opening c5 and screwthreaded within the lower end of said coupling C, and a ball C5, resting in said seat. Said ball is held from displacement by means of a cage formed by a cylindric extension CG upon the valve-seat, said extension being slotted, as shown at c6 c, and an apertured top or cover c7, conveniently secured to said extension by a screwthreaded joint.

To the lower end of the coupling C is secured the core-barrel D, which latter is provided at its lower end with a cutting-head D of familiar construction.

E, Fig. 2, indicatesa portion of a core which has been cut and stands Within the core-barrel. Interiorlythe core-barrel is provided near its lower end with a conical enlargement F,'having its greater diameter at the top, and within this conical enlargement or recess is located a contractible metal ring F for the purpose of gripping and supporting the core when the core-barrel is raised. The ring F' is open at one side to permit of its spreading and contracting, and it is also desirably provided with a series of interior vertically-arranged notches or recesses, as shown, so as to be freely flexible and form passages for water between it and the core. The gripping-ring F is of such normal diameter as to drop to or near the lowest part of the conical recess F, and in this position itsinterior diameter is less than that of the core which will be cut by the drill. On the otherlland, when expanded in the upper -part of the conical recess F, the ring F will have an interior diameter large enough to permit the core to pass through. The ring will be forced upward and expanded by the core as the latter is formed, vand when the core-barrel is lifted the ring, which embraces it closely, will be drawn downward in the conical recess at the same time it bites the core, and through this gripping action of the ring the core will be broken off and brought upward with the corebarrel. i The parts of my invention being constructed and arranged as described, the operation is as follows: As the cutting operation commences water is forced down within the tubular drill-rod A and passes into the pipe li and chamber b. From the chamber b a suillcient quantity will pass through the passages Zi t? to expand the rubber tube Biagainst the walls of the hole, and thus make a tight joint at this point, as before described. The greater part of the volume of water passing down through the pipe B4 will pass through the branch pipes C3 C3 into the water-space c', and thence downwardly between the` outside of the core-bar rel and the rock being cut to 'the cutters, around which it passes to lubricate the same and to remove the detritus as fast as formed. The water then passes upwardly Within the core-barrel, and around the core through the check-valve, chambers C and b2, and then outwardly through-the passages or parts B5 B5 to the exterior of the drill-rod and between the same and the surrounding hole, from whence' it will rise to the surface of the ground.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that as the current of Water passes upwardly around the core as soon as the same breaks or becomes detached the detached piece or pieces will be lifted by the force of otherwise loccur, for reasons hereinbefore stated. The check-valve C4 will etfectually prevent a downward flow of water upon the top of the core at the time of lifting the corebarrel to remove the core.

It will be understood that when the drillrod is being withdrawn the water' contained inthe same will readily flow out, as described, into the bottom of the hole, and thus prevent the formation of a partial vacuum belowthe drill-rod.

It will be manifest that I do not intend 'to restrict myself to the specific construction and arrangement of the packing-ring herein described, except in the case where specific claims are made for such construction, as it is entirely obvious that an enlargement at a point between the exterior openings of the passages in the drill-rod and core-barrelof a size sufficient to fill the hole and prevent the IOO IIO

IIS

passage of the greater part of the water past said point would serve the ends of this invention and in itself form a packing-ring.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a modified form of construction embodying my invention and which comprises a novel construction in the coupling connecting the core-barrel B with the core-barrel D. In thisy form of construc-V tion, instead of the coupling C being provided with the points c2 Ic2 and having branch pipes C3 Cpassing through the lower portion thereof, two coupling-sections CT C8 are used.'V Thelower end of the head B by a screw-threaded joint, and at its lower end said coupling-section is connected with the coupling-section ijs, which is of a diameter less than that of' the coupling-section C" and corresponds in external diameter with the reduced lower portion c" of the said coupling C, thereby forming a shoulder at the point at which said coupling-sections are joined. The lower end ro of the said coupling-section CT is provided with the cutting points or diamonds c2 c2, and packing-rings cii c3 are located upon the said coupling in the same manner, as before described. Said coupling-section Csbeingof adiameterless than thatotthe coupling section CT, the necessary water-space is formed between said coupling-section C8 and the walls of the hole. The branch pipes C3 C3 pass through openings in-the said coupling-sectionv C3, and 2o said section is connected with the upper end of the Icore-barrel by a screw-threaded joint. I provide this construction so that the cut- Y ting-points will be supported. bya section ditferent from that through which the branch 2 5 pipes pass, whereby said coupling-section C7, supporting said diamonds or cutting-points, can be removed to reset or repair the same without disturbing the said branch pipes, which pass through the Section CT. 3o -I claim as my inventionl. A drilling apparatus comprising a drillrod land oo rebarrel and pipes or passages leading from the interior of the drill-rod to the exterior of the core-barrel and from the 3 5 interior of the core-barrel to the exterior of the .drill-rod, one of said parts being provided with an enlargement or packing at a point between t-he exterior openings of the -said passages in the drill-rod and core-barrel, 4o substantially as described.

2. Adrilling apparatus, a d rill-rod and corebarrel and pipes or passages leading from the interior of the drill-rod to the exterior of the core-barrel and from the interior ot the core-barrel to the exterior of the drill-rod, one

of said larts being provided with an enlargenient at a point between the' exterior openings of the said passages in the drill-rod and core-barrel, which enlargement is provided 5o with an external annular packing-ring, substantially as described.

3. A drilling apparatus comprising a drillrod and core-barrel and pipes or passages leading from the interior of the drill-rod to 5 5 the exterior of the core-barrel and from the interior of the core-barrel to the exterior of thev drill-rod, one of said parts .being provided withfan enlargement aty a point between the exterior openings of said passages in the'drill- 6o rod and cone-barrel, which enlargement` is provided with a series of external annular packing-rings, substantially as described.

,4. A drilling apparatus comprising a drillrod and core-barrel .and pipes or passages leading from the interior of the drill-rod to the exterior of the core-barrel and from the interior of the core-barrel to the exterior of the drill-rod, one of said parts being provided with an enlargemen'tat'a Vpoint between the exterior openings of said passages in the drill-rod and core-barrel, which enlargement is provided with an external annular revoluble packing-ring, substantially as described.

5. A drilling apparatus comprising a drillrod and core-barrel and pipes or passages leading from the interior of the drill-rod to the exterior of the core-barrel and from the interior'of the core-barrel to the exterior ot the drill-rod, one of said parts being provided with an enlargement at a point between the exterior openings of said passages in the drill-.rod and core-barrel, which lenlargement is provided With an exterior annular recess or contracted portion communicating with the interior oil the drill-rod, and anon-rotating iiexib'le tube or packing-ring located within said recess and adapted tobe expanded tol 'engage the walls of 4the hole by the pressure of water from within the drill-tube, substantially as described.

6. A drilling apparatus comprising'a drillrod and core-barrel and pipes or passages leading from the interior of the drill-rod to the exterior of the core-barrel and from the interior of the core-barrel to the exterior of the drill-rod, one of said parts being provided with an enlargement at a point between the exterior openings of the said passages in the drill-rod and core-barrel, which enlargement is provided with an exterior annular recess or contracted portion communicating with the interior of the drill-rod, a slotted sleeve loosely mou nted within said recess, and a flexible tube or packing-ring surrounding said tube and adapted to be expanded to engage the walls of the hole by the pressure of water from within the drill-tube, substantially as described.

7. A drilling apparatus comprising a drillrod, a core-barrel, and a coupling uniting the same, said coupling being provided with an intermediate enlargement or packing filling the hole, and pipes or passages leading through said coupling from the interior of the drillrod to the exterior of the core-barrel at one side of said enlargement and from the interior of the core-barrel to the exterior of the drill-rod at the opposite side of said enlargement, substantially as described.

8. A drilling apparatus comprising a drillrod, a core-barrel, and a coupling uniting said parts, h 'aving an enlargement or packing filling the hole, said coupling being provided with a central chamber extending from its lower end past said enlargement or packing, and a pipe secured'in the upper part of said ycoupling and extending through said central chamber, said pipe communicating at one end with the interior of the drill-rodv and at its opposite end by means of a series ofy branch pipes with the exterior of the core-barrel at one side of said enlargement, the said chamber being arranged to communicate at one end with the interiorot' the core-barrel and IOC' IIC

at its opposite end with the exterior of the drill-rod at the opposite side of said enlargement by means of apertures in the coupling, substantially as described.

9. A drilling apparatus comprising a drillrod, a'core-barrel, and a coupling uniting said parts, said coupling being provided with an exterior annular recess or contracted portion,

' a non-rotating flexible tube or'packing-ring Vro located-within .said recess, acentral chamber extending through said coupling and provided withacont-racted prtion,and a pi pesecured in said contracted portion and extending through said central chamber, said kpipe communicating at one end with the interior of the drillrod and at its opposite end by means ot a pipe with the exterior of the core-barrel at one side of said packing-ring, 4the portion of the said chamber belowsaid contracted .portion arranged to communicateat one end with the interiorof 'the core-barrel and at .its op! posite-end with the exterior of the'drill-rod at the opposite side of said packing-ri`ng by means of -a series of apertures in the coupling and the portion of the said central cham-V ber above said contracted portion' arranged to communicatewith the said exterior annular recess by relatively small apertures in the coupling, substantially yas described.

10. A drilling apparatus comprising adrillrod and core-barrel, 'a vcoupling uniting said parts, said coupling consisting of two parts connected by a screw-threaded joint and having an exterior annular recess formed between a shoulder on one part and the end of the other part, said recess communicating with the interior of the drill-rod, a slotted sleeveloosely mounted upoufsaid coupling within said recess, a flexible tube or packing-ring surrounding the said sleeve, .pipes or passages leading from the interior .of the drill-rod through said coupling tothe exterior ot' the core-barrel at one side of said packing-ring, and pipes or passages leading from the interior of the core-barrel through said coupling to the exterior of the drill-rod at the opposite side of said packingfringLsub.- stantially as described. ff".

11. Adrilling apparatus 'comprisingla drillrod and core-barrel, one olf said 4parts being provided with "an enlargement or packing, pipes or passages leading from theinterior ot"v the drill-rod to the exteriorof` the. core-barrel at one Vside of said enlargement, and pipes or passages leading fromt-he interior of 'the corebarrel to ,the exterior of '.thedrill-rod at the opposite sidegof said enlargement and Apromy invention I ax'm'y signature in presence v oftwo Witnesses. Y

MILAN C. BULLOCK.

Witnesses: 1

C. CLARENCE POOLE, HARRY COBB KENNEDY. 

